Project Mgmt Vs Commercial / Procurement - What to do?
Discussion
Hi all,
Seeking a bit of advice from one of the more sensible areas of the forum.
Im currently undecided between taking a project management type role and a procurement / commercial role which is also available. I’m trying to think about what the future path of both may be, but worried I may be over thinking it.
Anyway,
Situation is I work in a large engineering company (who is a major player in aerospace), however I’m not an engineer.
I joined the company through the graduate recruitment program, which I have now been on for 2 years and am now looking for a ‘real’ job. I joined initially working within procurement, however have drifted into project management recently, which I believed was where i wanted to be, However now Im not 100% sure.
Both potential roles will be identical pay, in the short term at least. Company will likely pay for professional accreditation in either field (PMI or similar / CIPS as appropriate).
My current project management experience seems to be mainly following spreadsheet based trackers and invariably means sitting behind excel for many hours a day. The project mgmt role would initially be a continuation of this however offers a chance to really understand the product and the engineering principles behind it – something which interests me. It then offers potential progression into a more hands on role project managing key suppliers (most of our actual engineering is outsourced), the roles focus around securing the delivery of project critical components and engineering from these suppliers.
The commercial role would be effectively working as a contract manager for a large second tier supplier, The role would focus more on the commercial negotiation of contracts and resolution of disputes, amending the contracts and setting up new ones (with potentially new suppliers) as required. From my experience of the various commercial depts so far progression seems a bit slower.
Previous experience is some commercial, as well as 9 years of various manual labour / shopfloor jobs before uni.
I have no real desire to leave the company just yet, but I am undecided about which is the ‘best’ next step (for me). I realise there are some transferable skills shared between both these roles, I’m currently 50:50 and not sure what to do.
Thinking long term, and from a perspective of external employability which is easier to find alternative employment, project management or commercial type roles?
Seeking advice really from anyone in either field Stuff like How much you enjoy it, how you got into the job etc, where has it taken you (in terms of scope of role/ roles) and any other advice from anyone else who’s made it through the post!
Cheers!
Seeking a bit of advice from one of the more sensible areas of the forum.
Im currently undecided between taking a project management type role and a procurement / commercial role which is also available. I’m trying to think about what the future path of both may be, but worried I may be over thinking it.
Anyway,
Situation is I work in a large engineering company (who is a major player in aerospace), however I’m not an engineer.
I joined the company through the graduate recruitment program, which I have now been on for 2 years and am now looking for a ‘real’ job. I joined initially working within procurement, however have drifted into project management recently, which I believed was where i wanted to be, However now Im not 100% sure.
Both potential roles will be identical pay, in the short term at least. Company will likely pay for professional accreditation in either field (PMI or similar / CIPS as appropriate).
My current project management experience seems to be mainly following spreadsheet based trackers and invariably means sitting behind excel for many hours a day. The project mgmt role would initially be a continuation of this however offers a chance to really understand the product and the engineering principles behind it – something which interests me. It then offers potential progression into a more hands on role project managing key suppliers (most of our actual engineering is outsourced), the roles focus around securing the delivery of project critical components and engineering from these suppliers.
The commercial role would be effectively working as a contract manager for a large second tier supplier, The role would focus more on the commercial negotiation of contracts and resolution of disputes, amending the contracts and setting up new ones (with potentially new suppliers) as required. From my experience of the various commercial depts so far progression seems a bit slower.
Previous experience is some commercial, as well as 9 years of various manual labour / shopfloor jobs before uni.
I have no real desire to leave the company just yet, but I am undecided about which is the ‘best’ next step (for me). I realise there are some transferable skills shared between both these roles, I’m currently 50:50 and not sure what to do.
Thinking long term, and from a perspective of external employability which is easier to find alternative employment, project management or commercial type roles?
Seeking advice really from anyone in either field Stuff like How much you enjoy it, how you got into the job etc, where has it taken you (in terms of scope of role/ roles) and any other advice from anyone else who’s made it through the post!
Cheers!
Both are good opportunities.
I would say Procurement is a very live industry for many firms right now, with probably a higher pay scale in the more specialist and senior roles than PMO.
I guess the key here is are you a people person and enjoy negotiation and building relationships or are you a spreadsheet jockey ?
Either way, both look good.
From the way you write, you are going to take the PMO role....
Personally, I'd rather relationship building than spreadsheet jockying - I really dont want to learn VBA...
Im trying to focus on the one which will give me the best learning opportunity and scope for development, both of the role and personally.
Catch is if I do a job I dont like in the short term I wont perform and therefore future oportunities become limited.
One of the issues I have, to a degree with both, is that due to the company size the roles themselves offcially have a narrow focus, for instance the procurement role is centred around contract ammendments (generally I find this boring compared to the actual negotiation and agreement), whereas the PMO role is limited in terms of actual management and I'd be just a spreadsheet jockey...
Being fairly proactive Ive tried with varying degrees of success to increase the scope of activity in both the roles Ive trialled as part of the grad program.
Still stuck.
Thanks for your comments though.
Im trying to focus on the one which will give me the best learning opportunity and scope for development, both of the role and personally.
Catch is if I do a job I dont like in the short term I wont perform and therefore future oportunities become limited.
One of the issues I have, to a degree with both, is that due to the company size the roles themselves offcially have a narrow focus, for instance the procurement role is centred around contract ammendments (generally I find this boring compared to the actual negotiation and agreement), whereas the PMO role is limited in terms of actual management and I'd be just a spreadsheet jockey...
Being fairly proactive Ive tried with varying degrees of success to increase the scope of activity in both the roles Ive trialled as part of the grad program.
Still stuck.
Thanks for your comments though.
Edited by Previous on Tuesday 1st October 13:05
It sounds like you are doing Project Controls rather than Project Management right now. Is that right?
I'm currently doing Project Controls as my first PM placement on my grad scheme but at the end of my 2 years I would be aiming to be a Control Account Manager or Assistant Project Manager.
I suppose my point it which route would you like to be in 1/2 years down the line, assuming some progression has occurred? Whichever progression route you favour is the one I would recommend going for.
I'm currently doing Project Controls as my first PM placement on my grad scheme but at the end of my 2 years I would be aiming to be a Control Account Manager or Assistant Project Manager.
I suppose my point it which route would you like to be in 1/2 years down the line, assuming some progression has occurred? Whichever progression route you favour is the one I would recommend going for.
Procurement.
The Golden Rule...AT ALL TIMES!!!!...is if remotely possible ALWAYS pick Function over Project. The stress level is always less, the hours are always less and frankly the totty is always a better quality. In this day and age of matrix management at Project level you also lose all ability to retain control over your team at Project level. In Function you jyst have to take their reports and flow them up. As you have parcelled them out to Project you dont even have to directly manage them.
The Golden Rule...AT ALL TIMES!!!!...is if remotely possible ALWAYS pick Function over Project. The stress level is always less, the hours are always less and frankly the totty is always a better quality. In this day and age of matrix management at Project level you also lose all ability to retain control over your team at Project level. In Function you jyst have to take their reports and flow them up. As you have parcelled them out to Project you dont even have to directly manage them.
DJRC said:
Procurement.
The Golden Rule...AT ALL TIMES!!!!...is if remotely possible ALWAYS pick Function over Project. The stress level is always less, the hours are always less and frankly the totty is always a better quality. In this day and age of matrix management at Project level you also lose all ability to retain control over your team at Project level. In Function you jyst have to take their reports and flow them up. As you have parcelled them out to Project you dont even have to directly manage them.
As someone who spend 15+ years doing project management, these are very very wise words!The Golden Rule...AT ALL TIMES!!!!...is if remotely possible ALWAYS pick Function over Project. The stress level is always less, the hours are always less and frankly the totty is always a better quality. In this day and age of matrix management at Project level you also lose all ability to retain control over your team at Project level. In Function you jyst have to take their reports and flow them up. As you have parcelled them out to Project you dont even have to directly manage them.
GlenMH said:
DJRC said:
Procurement.
The Golden Rule...AT ALL TIMES!!!!...is if remotely possible ALWAYS pick Function over Project. The stress level is always less, the hours are always less and frankly the totty is always a better quality. In this day and age of matrix management at Project level you also lose all ability to retain control over your team at Project level. In Function you jyst have to take their reports and flow them up. As you have parcelled them out to Project you dont even have to directly manage them.
As someone who spend 15+ years doing project management, these are very very wise words!The Golden Rule...AT ALL TIMES!!!!...is if remotely possible ALWAYS pick Function over Project. The stress level is always less, the hours are always less and frankly the totty is always a better quality. In this day and age of matrix management at Project level you also lose all ability to retain control over your team at Project level. In Function you jyst have to take their reports and flow them up. As you have parcelled them out to Project you dont even have to directly manage them.
GadgeS3C said:
Does sound very familiar!
Its depressing isnt it? Guess who has brought the laptop home to work this weekend? Guess who was in work on thurs and fri this week when evrrybody else was on German bank hol and bridging day...?Guess who works Project and not Function...exactly!
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